February 23, 2017

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Government has continuously been paying a large amount of money as fees from the public exchequer to senior advocates appearing on its behalf in the Supreme Court each time the writ petition filed by the government challenging the Jabalpur High Court decision to quash the Madhya Pradesh Public Service (Promotion) Rule, 2002, which provides for “reservation in promotion” for the SCs and STs (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) gets listed for hearing.

In a written reply to a query, the Madhya Pradesh Government yesterday informed the State Assembly that seven more SLPs have been filed besides the special leave petition (SLP) no. 13954/2016 (Civil Appeal no. 5247/2016) filed by the State Government challenging the Jabalpur High Court order declaring the 2002 reservation in promotion Rule as “Non est” – a term frequently used in Indian legal parlance. It means “does not exist”.

Responding to the SLP by the State Government, the Supreme Court had ordered on May 12, 2016 that status quo be maintained in this matter. Hence all promotions are held up in Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh government has informed the Legislative Assembly that a number of advocates have been “appointed” to present the state Government’s case in the Apex Court.

The advocates “appointed” by the Government in this case are as follows:

S.No.

Name of advocate

Date of appointment

Fees paid for hearing and date

Amount

Date

1

Mukul Rohatgi

Attorney General of India

10.05.2016

Rs. 11, 00, 000

27.05.2016

2

Harish Salve

30.09.2016

Rs. 10, 00, 000

11.01.2017

3

Sanjay R. Hegde

22.11.2016

Rs 22, 20, 000

11.01.2017

4

Gopal Subramaniam

30.09.2016

Rs. 9, 70, 000

13.01.2017

5

Ms. Indira Jaising

30.01.2017

Rs. 7, 55, 000

30.01.2017

6

V. Shekhar

30.01.2017

Rs. 2, 75, 000

30.01.2017

7

A. Sundaram

30.01.2017

—

—

8

S.S. Suri

30.01.2017

—

—

9

K.K. Venugopal

30.01.2017

—

—

10

Subramanian Prasad

30.01.2017

—

—

11

Dinesh Gupta

30.01.2017

—

—

12

Manoj Gorkela

30.09.2016

—

—

13

Purushendra Kaurav

Additional Advocate General

30.01.2017

—

—

14

Saurabh Mishra

Standing Counsel

30.01.2017

—

—

15

Tushar Mehta

Additional Solicitor General

17.01.2017

—

—

Fees is being paid separately to advocates representing the government employees from the reserved SC and ST categories. Their case has been taken up by their association known as AJJAKS.

Dates fixed for hearing and number of advocates appearing for the Government